Winding machine and method



y H. s. WOODRUFF WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 14. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y Attorney.

May 10,1927.

H. S. WOODRUFF WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 14. 1924 a sheets-sheet 2 Fiji .5 b 1 @553 Mm];

' Attorney.

May 10, 1927.

H. S. WOODRUFF WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed-March 14. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES *P'ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. WOODRUFF, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AS STGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, 0

WINDING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application filed March 14, 1924. Serial No. 699,234.

This invention relates to winding and is herein exemplified as a method and apparatus for winding a strip of metal into helical form to be afterward cut up into hollow cylindrical rollers for bearings.

Hitherto, rollers have been made by Winding a strip of metal on a mandrel, a rotating chuck holding one end ing advanced of the strip and beby a screw to pull the strip through a fixed guide and wrap it around the mandrel.

Tn such machines, the initial coils are imperfect, involving waste, and the length of a coil is liinited by the length of the mandrel or by the traverse of the chuck.

In other machines that use rolls, it is necessary to form the initial coils by hand or by apparatus distinct from the apparatus which continues the operation, siderable loss of time in cha device to the other.

involving a connging from one An object of this invention, therefore, is

to provide a method and winding rollers or the like the above disadvantages.

with one feature, a

apparatus for that will avoid In accordance coil of unlimited length can be auto1natically formed without the necessity for any preliminary operation on the initial coils.

This is accomplished by feeding a strip endwise along a helicoidal face to a series of winding instrumentahties which progressively bend the strip around a core. quired large floor space an Prior winding machines have red were complicated and expensive, this being due in part to the necessity for a long mandrel and operating means therefor.

curl upwardly at ject is to avoid this defect. with this feature, the strip i the edges and another ob- In accordance s fed between a convex and a concave roll driven at different speeds and at a faster speed thereby str delivered to winding rolls driven aining the strip F DETROIT, MICI-IIGANQA CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

and giving it a cross section which has a predisposition to form a smooth hollow cylinder when hehcally wound and counteracting the tendency to curl.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of the character indicated my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and. claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the machine.

Figiue 2 is a front elevation.

' Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the winding heads.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of parts shown in Figure 3 with a portion of the casing removed.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of Figure 4. 1* igure 6 is an end elevation of the winding head.

Figure 7 is a section onthe line AA of Figure 6 with some parts omitted.

Figure 8 is a section on the line BB of Figure 6 with some parts omitted.

Figure 9 is a section on the line DD of Figure 6 with some parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a vertical section through some of the driving mechanism and Figure 11 is a perspective view of the work guide.

The numeral 10 indicates a frame or stand supporting two winding heads enclosed in casings 12 and 14, one head being arranged to wind a strip of metal right handed and the other winding it left handed. The strip S of material to be wound is introduced between a lower feed roll 16 and an upper feed roll 18, the lower feed-roll having a convex periphery and the concave periphery companion roll having a and being driven a little faster to iron out the strip and cause it to take a crosssection which will facilitate its winding into helical form. Feed rolls of this form also get a good grip on the stock even if it is smooth, and knurling or roughening of the stock can-be dispensed with. The lower feed roll is fixed to a shaft 20 journalled in boxes in the casing 12 and the upper feed roll is fixed to a shaft 22 journalled in a pivoted box at one slidable block 2 1 at the other.

is slidable vertically to a slot in the end wall of the casing,

end and in a The block 24 small extent in a being guided on one side by a cap 26 closing the side of the casing and fastened thereto by screws. The block 24 carries a vertical stud 28 abutting at its upper end against the middle portion of a flat spring bar 30, pivoted at 32 between lugs 34. of the end cap. A studr36 fixed to the casing projects upwardly through the end of the spring bar and is threaded for the reception of a knurled collar 38 for the purpose of adjusting the distance between the feed rolls to get the proper grip.

The low-er teed roll shaft 20, as shown in Figure 10, has keyed to it abevel gear 40 meshing with a bevel gear 42 fixed to a hub 4d fastened to the main drive shaft 46 which is journalled in a bushing in the casing 12. The upper feed roll shaft 22, as shown in Figure carries a gear 48 driven from the lower feed roll shaft through the medium of a bevel gear 50 keyed to the lower feed roll shalt the gear ratio and feed roll sizes being such that the upper feed roll is driven at a little faster speed than the lower feed roll and the two shafts being arranged at an acute angle.

its the strip S is delivered from the feed rolls,it passes through a guideway composed of a fixed guide plate 52 and a movable guide plate 54, the first plate being fastened by screws,- 56 to a block 58 which is fastened to the casing 12 by screws 60. The edges of the strip engage the guide plates and the sides of the strip engage right angular spaced extensions 62 and 6 1 formed on the guide plates and 54 respectively. The movable guide plate has a recess at 66 engaging a holding projection 68 formed on a plate 70 fastened by means of screws 72 to a face plate 74 which in turn is fastenec'l by the screws 60 to the block 58. The guide plate is held against longitudinal 111OV8- ment by the projection and recess, and is adjust ole widthwise of the strip by screws T8 passing through the plate 70 into the guide plate. Abutment screws 76 support the guide plate M and maintain the adjustment.

The guideway extends at an angle less than a right angle, to a core member 80 having a flattened portion 92 to prevent it from turning in the block 58 and having also a cylindrical core 84 projecting from an end face 86, this face being inclined and preferably of helieoidal form, the face also having the same inclination as that of the guideway and forming in effect a continuation thereof. The core 84 extends into a recess 88 in the block 58, this recess containing a set of bending or winding rolls. These rolls 90, 92 and 94 are spaced about the axis of the cylindrical core and are equidistant therefrom. Each roll is keyed to a short driving shaft 96 journalled in a basin ing in the block 58 and carrying a pinion 98 at one end for driving en agement with an internal gear 100 (see Figure 10) fastened to a cup-shaped holder 102 the hub n of which is fastened to the main drive shaft 46 by nuts 10%. The other end 106 of each shaft 96 extends beyond the pinion and hero engaged by a. thrust plate 108 which abuts against the end of a hand screw 110 threaded in the block and secured in adjusted position by a lockout 112. The rolls have to witl'istand considerable outward pressure from the nmterial and the thrust plates prevent deflection. The bending rolls, as will be apparent. are so geared that they travel at a considerably greater speed than the feed rolls and. they serve to bend and pull the strip bodily around and iron it against the core while the feed rolls exert a drag.

It should be noted that the bending roll is arranged a little to one side of a line. normal to the path of feeding movement of the strip and passing through the core fill. and the roll first engages tl n strip on the outer side thereof as the strip is fed taugentially to the cylindrical core. Since the path of the outer face of the strip intersects the first roll 90, it is given an initial bend towards the center o" the core after which the strip engages a surface on the end of a plate 114 of hardened steel. The plate 114 abuts at one end against the end of a hand screw 116 threaded in the block 58 and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 118 to provide for wear. A screw 120 in the face plate 7 engages an inclined side of the plate 114 to prevent the plate dropping into the path of the end of the strip. The end of the strip S is tapered to facilitate its bending both around the core and longitudinally of the core and, as the strip is progressively wound into a coil, it passes through a sleeve 122 fixed to the face plate 74 and having its interior inner end chainfered to guide the coil through the opening. The winding takes place in the recess as which is entirely closed, the strip itself closing the entrance openin through the guide plates 52 and 5% and also closing the exit opening through the sleeve 122.

As appears in Figure 3, the main drive shaft 46 of each winding head projects through the casing 12 or 1% and carries a limit collar 1%, and an extension 126 of the shaft is keyed as indicated at to receive a sliding chit-ca collar 12-50 (see Figure 1) which is moved longitudinally by a hand lever 132 pivoted to the clutch collar and to a bracket fastened on the stand. Each clutch member 130 has clutch teeth engaging cooperating clutch teeth on a clutch member 13% fixed to a stub shaft 136 journalled in a casing. Each shaft 136 carries a worm wheel 138 meshing with a worm 140 on a vertical worm shaft 142 till driven by a motor 14% supported on the base of the machine. The Winding head in the casing 12 Winds the stripleft handed and the Winding head in the casing 14 Winds the strip right handed and thctwo strips may be simultaneously or independently wound. Both right and left hand coils are usually required because after the coils are cut up into lengths and incorporated in a roller bearii'ig, the right and the left Windings are arranged alternately in order to carry a supply of oil in both directions across the bearing.

In operation, a strip S of steel of rectangular cross-section, of any length and having its end tapered, is presented between the feed rolls l6 and 18 which cause the metal to flow slightly on the outside and give the strip a predisposition to form a helical coil. The strip, then passes through the guide between the plates 52 and 5% and is presented tangentially to the cylindrical core 8i and at an angle, less than a right angle, to the axis of the core, this angle corresponding to the inclination of the helicoidal face 86. The taper on the end of the strip weakens it so that as the outer face of the strip meets the bending roll 90, it is given an initial bend towards the center thus causing the strip to engage the end of plate 114i and giving it a further bend towards the core axis. The strip next engages the second feed roll 92 Which bends it still further so that it will coil around and meet the third bending roll 94: and continue to Wind into a smooth cylindrical roll. The coil is thus progressively formed and can be made of any length desired and the length is not dependent uponthe size of the machine.

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific construction and series of steps, it should be understood that, in its broader aspects, it is not necessarily limited to the details selected'for illustrative purposes.

I claim I 1. In a machine of the character described, a member fixed against rotation and having a reduced end, the portion of larger size having an end face of helicoidal form, means for continuously feeding a strip of material along said helicoidal face, and means spaced around the reduced end for bending the strip into a continuous coil; substantially as described.

In a machine of the character described, a member having a cylindrical core to receive a strip of material wound thereon. a set-of Winding rolls spaced about the core for Winding the material. feed rolls, means for driving the feed i-olls,ancl means for driving the Winding rolls at a fasterspeed than the feed rolls; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described, a member fixed againstrotation and having a cylindrical core, a set of rolls spaced about the core, means for driving said rolls to Wind the strip around the core, andineans for exerting a drag on the material during the action of the Winding rolls; substan tially as described.

4:. In a machine of the character described, a cylindrical core fixed against rotation, a set of rolls spaced about thecore, and means for driving said rolls to pull a strip of material bodily around the core; substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the character described, a member having a cylindrical core and a helicoidal face, driven Winding rolls spaced about the core, and means for guiding a strip of material at an angle to the axis of the core corresponding to the inclination of the helicoidal face; substantially as described.

6. In a machine ofthe character described, a member having a stationary cylindrical core, Winding rolls spaced about the core, means for driving the rolls, and means for guiding a strip ,of material at an angle, less than a right angle, to the axis of the core; substantially as described.

7. In a machine for Winding a rectangular strip of material into helical form, a feed roll having a concave periphery, a companion roll having a convex periphery, means for driving one ofthe rolls faster than the other, a cylindrical core to receive the strip, and means for bendingthe strip around the cylindrical core; substantially as described.

8. In a machine for Winding a strip of material into helical form, a cylindrical core to ieceive the strip, means for bending the strip around the core, a feed roll having a concave periphery, and a companion roll having a convex periphery; substantially as described.

9. In a machine for Winding a strip of material into helicalform, a. cylindrical core to receive the strip,'means forbending the strip around the core, a feed roll having a concave periphery, a companion roll having a convex periphery, and means for driving one of the feed rolls faster than the other; substantially as described.

10. In a machine for Winding a strip of material into helical form, a cylindrical core to receive the strip, means for bending the strip around the core, and a pair of feed rolls engaging opposite sides of the strip and delivering it to the bending means, the axis of one feed roll being at an acute angle to the axis of the other; substantially as described.

11. Ina machine for Winding a strip of material into helical form, a short cylindrical core to receivethe strip, a series of plain rolls spaced about the core, means for driv ing the rolls to drag the strip bodily around and iron it against the core, and means for encasing the rolls and the part of the strip in contact therewith; substantially as described.

12. In a machine for winding a strip oi material into helical form, a cylindrical core to receive the strip, means for bending the strip aroundthe core, a pair of feed rolls engaging opposite sides of the strip and delivering it to the bending means, and means for driving the roll which engages the outer surface of the strip at a faster speed; substantially as described.

13. In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical core to receive a strip of material, means for presenting the strip tangentially to the core, a set oi bending rolls spaced about the core, the first of said rolls lying in the path of tie outer side of the strip after the strip contacts With the core, and means for driving one or more of said rolls; substantially as described.

14:. In a machine of the character described, a fixed cylindrical'core to receive a strip of material, means for presenting the strip tangentially to the core, a roll lying in the path of the outer side of the strip after the strip contacts with the core, said roll bending the strip inwardly, and a plate having a surface in the path of the strip as it is bent by the roll, said surface being parallel to the core for bending the strip around the core; substantially as described.

15. In a machine of the character described, a fixed cylindricahcore to receive a strip of material, means for presenting the strip tangentially to the core, a roll lying in the path of the outer side of the strip after the strip contacts with the core, said roll bending the strip inwardly, a plate having a surface in the path of the strip as it is bent by the roll, said surface being flat and parallel to the core for bending the strip around the core, and a second bending roll beyond the plate; substantially as described.

16. In a machine for automatically winding a strip of material into helical form, a fixed cylindrical core to receive the strip of material, means for feeding the strip tangen tially towards the core, and a roll lying in the path of the outer side of the strip, said roll and feeding means lying on opposite sides of a line normal to the direction or" feed and means for rotating the roll to drag the strip bodily around and iron it against the core; substantially as described.

17. In a machine for winding a strip of material helically into a hollow cylinder, a set of rolls having their peripheral faces equally spaced from a common center, means for feedingthe strip of material in a path extending at one side of said center and intersecting the first of said rolls, said first roll causing an initial bend of the material and the remaining rolls completing the bend, and means for driving said rolls; substantially as described.

18. In a machine for Winding a strip of material into a hollow cylinder, a cylindrical core, a set of rolls having their peripheral faces equally spaced from the core, means for feeding a strip of material in a path tangential to the core and intersecting the first of said rolls, said first roll causing an initial bend of the material around the core, a helicoidal face at the base of the core for initially bending the strip in another direction, and means for driving the rolls; substantially as described.

19. In a machine of the character described, means for Winding a strip of material into helical form comprising a cylindrical core and Winding rolls, and means for guiding the strip to the core, said means comprising a pair of opposite plates having right angular spaced extensions toreceive the strip; substantially as described.

20. In a machine of the character described, means for Winding a strip of material into helical form comprising a cylindrical core and winding rolls, means for guiding the strip to the core, said means comprising a pair of opposite plates having right angular spaced extensions to receive the strip and means for relatively adjusting said plates; substantially as described.

21. In a machine of the character described, means for Winding a strip of material into helical form comprising a cylindrical core and Winding rolls, and means for guiding the strip to the core, said means comprising a fixed plate to guide one edge of the strip, a movable plate to guide the other edge of the strip, and spaced extensions on the plates engaging the opposite sides of the strip; substantially as described.

22. In a machine of the character described, Winding means, and means for guiding a strip of material to the Winding means, said guiding means comprising a fixed plate having an angular extension, a head, a bracket fixed to the head and having aprojection, a movable plate having a recess fitting said projection, said movable plate also having an angular extension, and adjusting means supported by the bracket and engaging the movable plate; substantially as described.

23. In a machine of the character described, a short core, a plurality of rolls arranged around the core for Winding a strip of material thereon, and a sleeve to engage the outer surface of the Wound strip as it comes from the core; substantially as described- 24:. In a machine of the character described, a shortcore, a plurality of rolls arranged around the core for Winding a strip of material thereon, and a sleeve to engage the outer surface of the wound strip as it comes from the core, said sleeve having one end interiorly chamfered to guide the strip; substantially as described.

25. In a machine for winding a strip of material into helical form, a block having a recess, winding rolls rotatable in the recess, and a plate closing the end of the recess and having an exit opening closed by the wound strip; substantially as described.

26. In a machine for winding a strip of material into helical form, a block having a recess, winding rolls rotatable in the recess, a face plate closing the end of the recess and having .an exit opening closed by the wound strip, and an entrance opening closed by the strip to be wound; substantially as described.

27. In a machine of the character described, a block, a cylindrical core supported by the block, drive shafts journaled in the block parallel to the core, a winding roll fixed to each shaft opposite the core, a pinion on each shaft, and an internal gear for driving all of said pinions; substantially as described.

28. In a machine of the character described, a cylindrical core, a plurality of winding rolls spaced about the core, drive shafts for the rolls, each of said shafts extending through its roll, and a thrust plate engaging each shaft beyond the roll; substantially as described.

29. In a machine of the character described, a block, a cylindrical core supported by the block, a shaft journalled in the block arallel to the cor-e, a winding roll fixed to the shaft opposite the core, said shaft extending beyondthe roll, and a thrust plate engaging the end portion of the shaft; substantially as described.

30. In a machine of the character described, a set of Winding rolls and a set of feed rolls, a drive shaft, an external gear fixed to the drive shaft for driving the feed rolls, .and an internal gear fixed to the drive shaft for driving the winding rolls at a faster speed than the feed'rolls; substantially as described.

31. In a machine of the character described, a drive shaft, a set of winding rolls rotatable on axes parallel to the drive shaft, a pair of feed rolls rotatable on axes at an acute angle to the drive shaft, bevel gear driving connections from the drive shaft to the feed rolls, and an internal gear fixed to the drive shaft for driving the winding rolls; substantially as described.

32. In a twin winding machine for strip material, a frame, a pair of casings, winding instrumentalities in one casing for coiling a strip right handed, winding instrumentalities in the other casing for coiling a strip left handed, a shaft projecting through each casing, a drive shaft journalled on the frame, stub shafts driven by said drive shaft, and independent clutches between the stub shafts and the shafts projecting from the casings; substantially as described.

33. In a twin Winding machine for strip material, a frame, a pair of casings, winding instrumentalities in one casing for coiling a strip right handed, winding instrumentalities in the other casing for coiling .a strip lift handed, and means for simultaneously or independently operating the winding instrumentalities; substantially as described.

34. The method of winding a strip of material into helical form in one operation which consists in feeding the strip continuously .along a helicoidal surface, and rolling the strip to bend it around a center; substantially as described.

35. The method of winding a strip of material into helical form which consists in tapering the end of the strip, feeding it along a helicoidal surface, and rolling the strip to bend it around a center; substantially as described.

36. The method of winding a strip of material into helical form which consists in feeding the strip along a helicoidal surface, rolling the strip to give it an initial bend towards a core, and again rolling the partially bent strip to pull it around the core; substantially as described.

37 The method of helically winding a strip-of metal into a smooth cylinder which consists in tapering the strip, feeding the strip along a helicoidal surface, rolling the strip to give it an initial bend towards a center, and again rolling the partially bent strip to wrap it into a cylinder; substantially as described.

38. The method of winding a strip of material into helical form which consists in feeding the strip tangentially and at an angle, less than a right angle, to a central core, and rolling the strip progressively to pull it endwise around and iron it against the core; substantially as described.

39. The method of winding a strip of material into helical form which consists in feeding the strip at an angle, less than a right angle, to a central axis, rolling the end of the strip to give it an initial bend towards the axis, and feeding the partially bent strip against an obstructing surface to bend it further towards the axis; substantially as described- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HENRY S. WOODRUFF. 

